Maternity garment



Nov. 18, 1952 Fig 3 Fig 2 F. E. ALLARD f MATERNITY GARMENT Filed April 20', 1950 IN V EN TOR.

Fergana'el-iA/lard BY Attorney Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in maternity garments and has particular reference to a combined girdle and stocking retainer adapted to be worn and used by pregnant women.

The principal object of the invention is the production of a garment of the character described so constructed that it can readily be adjusted about the waistline of the wearer to compensate for varying girths of waistlines, and wherein the front portion of the garment has a substantially open elfect to thus eliminate undue pressure through the period of pregnancy, that allows the abdomen to expand as the pregnancy period continues.

An additional object of the invention is the production of a garment of the character described that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and highly efiicient and serviceable in use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the garment constructed in accordance with my invention and in use by the wearer,

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof, and

Fig. 3 discloses the garment as viewed from the rear.

It is a well known fact that when girdles of the conventional type are worn there is embodied in the same a front portion that exerts considerable pressure on the abdomen during the period of pregnancy. This front portion is generally so rigid that the wearer is unable to readily attach the hose supporters to hold up the stockings. To therefore overcome this annoyance and inconvenience, I have devised the present invention.

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the I purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, numeral 4 designates the girdle, as a whole, which girdle embodies in its construction a substantially ushaped fabric body adapted to support the lower abdomen, as at 5, and the abdominal side walls, as at 6 and I. Connected to the front sides of the garment and sewed thereto, as at 8 and 8', is a substantially rectangular strip 9 that covers a portion of the back and hips and serves as the rear of the girdle. A belt I is sewed or otherwise secured to the upper sides of the U-shaped upper portion and to the top edge of the rectangular strip 9.

The said belt is preferably made of fabric material throughout the greater portion of its length. To embody adjustability in the belt to thus compensate for varying girths of waistlines, I propose to employ an elastic band I I that is secured as at 12 to one end of the belt. The free end of the belt is equipped on its under-surface with hooks 19 that are receivable in eyes l4 suitably spaced on a fabric or elastic extension 15 that is suitably secured to the opposite end of the belt It. It will be observed that by this arrangement the belt can be readily adjusted, as desired. The hose supporters, preferably 4 in number, comprise a front pair of supporters it that depend from the abdominal support 5, and a rear pair of supporters l1 that depend from the rectangular strip 9. The clamps or clasps of the supporters are in turn detachably secured to the stockings I8.

From the foregoing description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be obvious that I have devised a most unique maternity girdle, whereby pregnant women will be provided with a holding means for stockings they wear, and simultaneously pressure of a full girdle will be eliminated.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the shape, size, material and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: A garment of the character described comprismg, a substantially U-shaped abdominal belt having an open front, a horizontal rear panel secured to said belt and adapted to encompass the small of the back and the hips of the wearer and terminating in a plane above the plane of the lowest extremity of said belt, a partially resilient and adjustable Waist band secured to the upper edge of said rear panel and to said U- shaped abdominal belt, and hose supporters depending from said U-shaped belt and said rear panel.

FERNANDE E. ALLARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 7 1,202,668 Byrd Oct. 24, 1916 2,166,312 Lunney July 18, 1939 2,469,793 SIBgBl May 10, 1949 

